EU JDID

In the wake of the Arab Springs, Jordan has been implementing a series of constitutional and political reforms aimed at building a "dynamic democracy". These reforms are based on progressive consolidation of the parliamentary system, active citizen participation and the strengthening of political parties. In line with its strategy for promoting the rule of law, the European Union (EU) has launched a programme in support of this reform process in Jordan.

This is the context behind the project entitled JDID (EU support to Jordanian Democratic institutions & Development)– meaning "new" in Arabic – allocated by the EU to the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), in a consortium with European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and CFI. Over the course of 4 years, it is to be implemented in collaboration with the Jordanian Chamber of Representatives, the Independent Electoral Commission, political parties and civil society organisations.

As vectors of transparency and citizen information, the media play a crucial role in the democratic process. The media segment of the JDID, implemented by CFI, includes training political journalists and also raising the awareness of elected representatives to the need to communicate with the media. It also provides support to the independent electoral commission in setting up a unit to monitor election and ballot coverage by the media.